Plant Growth and Development – Notes

Plant Growth
Growth is a permanent increase in the size of an organ or individual cell in plants.
The presence of meristems is plants in plants helps them retain the capacity to grow throughout their life.
Apical meristems are localised to shoot and root apex and help in the primary growth of a plant.
Lateral meristems are present in woody plants and help in the secondary growth of a plant.
Growth is measured y different parameters including size, area, length and number.
The different phases of growth are zone of division, elongation and maturation.

Growth Rates
Plant growth comprises cell division, cell elongation and cell differentiation.
Growth is measured per unit time and it is called growth rate.
Arithmetic growth refers to the division of one daughter cell obtained during mitosis, while the other daughter cell enlarges and differentiates.
Geometric growth refers to the division of both daughter cells obtained during mitosis.
The growth rate of geometric growth is called relative growth rate or ‘efficiency index’.